Luke 6:26

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213}, when {G3752} all {G3956} men {G444} shall speak {G2036} well {G2573} of you {G5209}! for {G1063} so {G5024}{G2596} did {G4160} their {G846} fathers {G3962} to the false prophets {G5578}.

"Woe to you when people speak well of you, for that is just how their fathers treated the false prophets!

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets.

Commentary

Luke 6:26 (KJV) is the final of Jesus' "woes" delivered during His Sermon on the Plain, offering a stark contrast to the blessings He pronounced earlier. This verse serves as a profound warning against superficial popularity and the dangers of compromising divine truth for human approval.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' teaching often referred to as the "Sermon on the Plain" (Luke 6:17), which parallels the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel. Following the Beatitudes (blessings for the poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted), Jesus issues four corresponding "woes" to those who are rich, full, laughing, and universally praised. Luke 6:26 is the culmination of these warnings, highlighting a reversal of worldly values in God's kingdom.

Key Themes

  • Authenticity vs. Popularity: The primary message is a caution against seeking universal human approval at the expense of divine truth. Jesus implies that true discipleship often involves facing opposition, not widespread commendation.
  • The Nature of "Woe": The Greek word for "woe," ouai (οὐαί), is a strong exclamation of lament, grief, or impending judgment. It's not merely a feeling of sadness but a solemn warning of spiritual danger or consequences for those who gain popularity through compromise.
  • The Danger of False Prophets: The verse draws a critical historical parallel to the "false prophets" of Old Testament times. These individuals often spoke pleasing words to the people and rulers, affirming their desires rather than delivering God's challenging truth. Consequently, they enjoyed popularity and acceptance, unlike true prophets who often faced persecution for their faithfulness (Jeremiah 28:8). Jesus warns that similar popular acclaim for His followers might indicate a departure from God's path.
  • God's Approval vs. Man's Approval: The verse indirectly stresses the importance of seeking God's commendation over human praise. To be universally spoken well of by the world may indicate a failure to challenge its values or proclaim uncomfortable truths, which is characteristic of the true prophetic voice. Paul echoes this sentiment in Galatians 1:10, stating, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "speak well of you" comes from the Greek kalōs legō (καλῶς λέγω), meaning to speak good things, commend, or praise. It implies a superficial or uncritical approval, often gained by conforming to prevailing opinions rather than upholding difficult truths.

Practical Application

Luke 6:26 challenges believers to examine the source and nature of their acceptance. It reminds us that:

  • Standing for Truth: Following Christ authentically often means being counter-cultural and potentially unpopular, especially when articulating biblical truths that challenge societal norms.
  • Examining Motives: We should regularly assess whether our words and actions are driven by a desire to please God or to gain human applause.
  • Discerning Popularity: Not all popularity is bad, but universal, uncritical approval from the world can be a warning sign that one might be compromising the gospel message or avoiding difficult stands.

This verse serves as a sober reminder that the path of true discipleship is often narrow and can lead to opposition, but it is the path of faithfulness to God, not to man.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
An Introduction to the Gospel of Luke: Jesus the Son of Man Luke: The Beloved Physician and Historian What the Bible Says About Money and Stewardship 5 Hard Questions Jesus Asked Judas Iscariot: The Betrayer

Cross-References

  • John 15:19

    If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

  • James 4:4

    Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

  • Matthew 7:15

    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

  • Micah 2:11

    If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, [saying], I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

  • 1 John 4:5

    They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

  • 1 John 4:6

    We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

  • Isaiah 30:10

    Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
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